Page 145 of Snowbound Threat

“You really didn’t have to do this,” Shawn insists.

“I know, but I wanted to. Oh!” She claps her hands together and squats down as Trigger rushes in to greet her. “There’s my boy. Don’t worry, I brought something for you, too.” She straightens, then shoos Shawn with both hands. “Out. Go work. I’ve got this.”

“I can help?—”

“I’ve got this,” she repeats then washes her hands.

Shawn puts both of his up and steps out of the kitchen, though he doesn’t go back to the table. I notice the way he watches her, the concern that never quite leaves his face.

“So, how are you feeling today, Beckett?” Samantha asks as she starts unloading glass food containers from the cooler. My stomach growls just looking at the food.

“Better. My throat’s a little sore, and my head is achy, but I’m okay.”

“You have a headache?” Shawn asks as he turns toward me. “You didn’t say anything.”

Is that concern I see for me, too?“Because it’s not bad. I get migraines, so I’m careful about what I take medicine for.”

“Smart girl. Migraines are the worst. I used to get them, but luckily I’ve been free of those buggers for the last few years. I suppose that’s one upside to battling cancer.”

My stomach plummets. “Cancer? I’m so sorry.”

Shawn swallows hard and shoves both hands into his pockets. As he does, the words I brushed off last night come flooding back.“My mom stayed with me a while.”Is that because he took care of her?

Is that why he’s hovering now?

“I appreciate that, honey. But I’m doing fine these days. As I keep trying to tell Shawn. He’s a worrier.” The love on her face is so evident, just as the affection Shawn has for her is on his.

It’s strange—I’d painted this picture of him in my head.

Arrogant.

Self-centered.

But now I’m starting to think I was way off base. Because the sides I’ve seen since he showed up at that hotel room speak of a different man entirely.

Clearly uncomfortable with the conversation, Shawn heads back toward the computer while his mother starts humming as she prepares lunch.

My gaze shifts completely to Shawn, though, and I try to imagine what things might have been like if it had been this version of him I’d seen on our first date.

Would we still be together?

Would we have found a way to make it work despite the geographical obstacle of living in two different states?

His attention moves from the computer in front of him to me, and those captivating eyes hold mine. For a moment, the rest of the world fades away, leaving the two of us standing here, unable to look away from each other.

The attraction has always been there.

But is it possible there could have been more if things had gone a little differently that night?

10.Shawn

What am I missing?

I’ve been staring down at this map and studying Paul’s flight logs for the last six hours. And so far, I don’t see any suspicious patterns. For all intents and purposes, he’d been flying the same routes for nearly seven years.

Boston to Seattle.

The occasional trip to Washington, D.C., just like Beckett said.